Thatch roof



U ITED STATES PATENT Ornrcn.

CHARLES MANDEVILLE, OF GRAHAM, TEXAS.

THATCH ROOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,751, dated November 28, 1893.

Apnlication filed March 25, 1893. Serial No. 467.636. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MANDEVILLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Graham, in the county of Young and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thatch Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of the roofs and walls of such buildings as sheds, pens or other structures for the shelter of animals or the temporary storage of goods and merchandise, or for other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective thatching or covering for roofs and walls composed of overlapping layers of straw or like material secured or fastened in place by running wires attached to the foundation on which the said thatching or covering is arranged.

My invention consists in a roof or wall and its thatching or covering and the fastening devices therefor, as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings-Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a roof constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 may represent a plan of the roof or an elevation of part of a wall having the same features of construction. Fig. 3 is a View of one of the fastening hooks with a portion of one of the fastening wires attached.

For the purpose of applying my invention in the construction of the roof of a shed, pen or other building, I secure to the rafters 1 a sheathing or foundation composed of boards or slats 2, which may be laid closely together or be placed at any suitable distance apart, as preferred. The boards or slats 2 may be fastened to the rafters 1 by means of nails or in any other convenient manner. In each board or slat 2 is secured at proper intervals a series of open hooks 3, each of which is provided with a lug or projection 4 on one side.

The thatch or covering of the roof is composed of overlapping layers of straw 5 or similar material, preferably the straw of broom corn. The straw may be sufficiently thrashed and the heads out 01f. I may arrange the layers of straw with the butts toward the lower end of the roof, at which point the thatching is commenced. The straws in each layer should be of such length as to extend across two or three of the transversely arranged boards 2 in which the hooks 3 are secured. The first layer of straws may be shorter than the others, and may overlie only two of the boards or slats 2, while the succeeding layers may be longer and overlie three or more boards. Each layer of straw is arranged to overlap the preceding or lowermost layer a sufficient distance to leave no uncovered joints. The thatching is commenced at the lower portion of the roof and continued upward to the highest point or ridge. As each layer or row of straw is laid in place it is securedin position by means of a wire 6 extended transversely across the top of the straw and in close binding contact therewith. Each wire is secured to a hook 3, or other suitable fastening, on one side of the roof and is then extended to the next hook, where it is passed beneath or through the same, then around the lug 4 on its opposite side, and then over the top of the hook and again beneath or through it onward to the next hook, where it is secured in like manner, and then extended onward to the next hook, and so on, until the roof is crossed and the entire layer of straw firmly secured from end to end. The next layer of straw is then laid in such a way as to overlap the preceding layer and is secured in the same manner, and so on until the roof is closely covered from eaves to ridge. The thatching or straw covering may be placed 011 the roof in such a manner as to extend somewhat beyond the sides and be then turned downward and secured by extended ends of the wires 6 so as to form a close joint along both sides of the'roof. Each layer of straw may be secured by one wire, or by two or more wires, as preferred.

The walls of a shed, pen, or similar build ing maybe constructed in the manner already described with reference to the roof; that is to say, the vertical studding posts of the walls may have transversely arranged boards or slats nailed thereon, upon the outside, at suitable intervals, to which the straw may be secured, by the means already described, in overlapping layers commencing at the bottom and finished off at the top below the projecting portions of the roof. The construction of the wall or roof is shown in section in Fig. 1, while in Fig. 2 is shown an elevation of the wall or a plan of the roof, the construction of the wall and roof being substantially the same.

A wall or roof of the character described is snificiently durable for cheap temporary structures and will answer the requirements of certain kinds of out buildings in very many cases.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1.' In a thatching or covering for roofs, walls and the like, the combination of a supporting foundation, overlapping layers of straw, parallel series of open hooks secured in the foundation in line with each layer of straw, and wires hooked into the open hooks in each series and extended across the layers of straw in binding contact therewith, substantially as described.

CHARLES MANDEVILLE.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NORRIS, THOS. A. GREEN. 

